[RC] Trouble with steep hills - Judi Daly
I?ve been lurking and learning for a long time, and
I really respect the knowledge of this group of horse
people. I have a question, and I can?t think of a
better place to ask it.
I have a 7-year-old Breeding Stock Paint, Mingo,
who is a fine trail horse, but he?s naturally on the
slow side. He?s been that way his whole life. Last
summer, he got a bad cut on rear leg that needed
stitches and took several months to heal. Combined
with a nasty, recurring hoof abscess, he was out of
commission for quite a while. I slowly brought him
back into condition, and take him out for 4-5 mile
trail rides on a regular basis. (I have another horse
that I do the bulk of my riding on. Mingo is my
?spare?). Last fall, I tried to take him down a very
steep hill, and he seemed very weak and uncoordinated.
We used to go down that hill all the time when I kept
him at a barn in that area, and though he went slowly
back then, this was completely different. He was very
hesitant to step forward at all. After that, I
avoided that hill until this fall. Figuring he would
be stronger, I found out he wasn?t a whole lot better.
We go down a number of smaller and less steep hills
all the time. He goes slow on them, but not like he
does on the steep hill.
Is there any exercises that I can do with him that
will help him with his strength and coordination? I
school him in the arena twice a week and trail ride
him twice a week.
Judi Daly: ?Good trail horses are made?not born.? See
www.trailtraining.bigstep.com for information on my
free newsletter and my future book.
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